Interests and Links
Shorty
My wife, Annie Davis Weber, and I now have a beautiful baby girl, named Helen Davis Weber. Helen was born on August 4th, 2007, the day I was supposed to receive my doctoral diploma. She decided that it was her day. Helen weighed 7lbs., 14oz.'s. She's doing very well (almost 17 pounds already), and is more fun than I can tell you. Most of our time and interests have been recently redirected to her, since she's adorable, and an amazing new addition to our lives.
Aside from our attention to Helen, I'd say I have four main interests. The first is philosophy; the second is music; the third is business (two and three are related for me); and the fourth is outdoorsy stuff.
Philosophy
My interests in philosophy can most basically be found on my CV. What my CV cannot convey, however, is just how much I love to teach. I have extensive experience teaching logic. I have also assisted a professor in teaching an introductory course in philosophy. In the fall semester of 2005 at SIUC, I taught the "Philosophy of Politics, Law and Justice," which was tremendous fun, mixing my greatest philosophical interest with my love of teaching. In the spring of 2006, I taught a course on the "Philosophy of Science, Nature, and Technology." In the fall of 2006, I taught a course called "American Mind." At the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss), I have been teaching Critical Thinking, Communication, and Public Policy, as well as the Honors College's writing intensive course (101 and 102) since the fall of 2007. In the fall of 2008, I'll offer a course in Ethics and Public Policy. In semesters to follow, I'll teach courses in Philosophy of Leadership: Classics of Ethics and Politics, Philosophy and Diversity in Public Policy, and the Philosophical Foundations of Human Rights: Western Justifications and International Challenges. Further courses I will develop will include Philanthropy and Ethics, Distributive Justice, and other special topics courses. Aside from teaching, I love to travel. So far these past years, philosophy has been a good reason to do a LOT of traveling. Finally, at the University of Mississippi l get to focus my research and my teaching on the aspect of philosophy that I have always loved most - politics - and, I attend particularly to the ways in which we can pursue change through the initiation and implementation of public policy.
Music / Business
I am an initially self-taught guitarist. I then minored in classical guitar at the Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University. I have been writing music in my spare time (hear a sample) since I picked up the guitar, though my spare time has almost vanished. My twin interest in music and business didn't start together. I found, however, that when I wanted something done with respect to my music, I could invest bit by bit in the things needed to get my projects done on my own. Once I realized how many other people wanted a better solution for their smaller musical ventures, I found a little niche and started Tempest Records. It will forever be a work in progress, which is a fact I love about it. The business side of supporting my love of music has been challenging, intellectually and creatively. I found that business is hard, but wonderful once you know how to do it. My business and my music offer me an incredible creative outlet that is also practical and appreciated by many, who have become friends and clients. What's also great is that many of the things I do for friends can be completed whether I'm near or far, thanks to the internet and digital music. So, Tempest Records can come with me, and wait for me, while I am busy teaching and writing. I love to get together to play music, though it has been too long since I have done so, and too infrequent!
Outdoors
My wife and I love to hike and to sail. We've been geocaching many times. It's a blast. People who are strong and regular hikers find beautiful places, mark them with their GPS's (I think you can get one for $100), and post them online. So, as hikers, we can go hunt for the little hidden cache, as a game, and end up in a beautiful place on a hiking trail. It's fantastic. Also, we learned to sail in the SIUC Sailing Club, and love it! We would go out alone on the club's boats to sail around Crab Orchard Lake in Illinois, just next to Carbondale. All that, and club membership cost only $25 per semester. Tons of fun.
In Mississippi, we're looking forward to visiting Sardis Lake, just 20 minutes Northeast of Oxford. In Oxford, our outdoor experience has been limited especially by our time.
Links
When I get time, I'm going to make sense of the following list, and add a bunch more.
The University of Mississippi, Department of Public Policy Leadership, Department of Philosophy and Religion
Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Department of Philosophy, Center for Dewey Studies
Dr. Larry A. Hickman's Website
The Society for Philosophers in America (SOPHIA)
The Society for the Advancement of American Philosophy
Mississippi Philosophical Association
John Dewey Society
The Pragmatism Cybrary
Charles S. Peirce Society
Facebook
